Traffic signal



Sept. 12, 1933. J. SHEEDY 1,926,501

TRAFFI C S I GNAL Filed Sept. 25, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Jbfin fzeedy ATTORNEY J. SHEEDY TRAFFIC S IGNAL Sept. 12, 1933.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 25, 1929 INVENTOR cfafifi (5726641 ATTORNEY poles as desired. 7 l

the.ends and go windows 3 intermediate its Patented SeptdlZ, 1933 a j i Umrso stares with? fl ii A U 1,926,501 TRAFFIC SEGNAL John Sheedy, Seattle, Wash[ Application. September 25, 1929 I Serial No. 395,153 r 4 Claims. ((21. 1527-429 My invention relates to the art of signaling and intersections.

5 Prima'rily the invention has for its object to provide a traffic signal of the semaphore stop go light type and it especially seeks to provide such a signal in which the stop semaphores are constantly moving into and-out of position and the stop and go lights are operated at proper time intervals in association with the movements of the semaphore.

Another object is to provide a signal in which the go signal does not change position but re-' mains at one place and is illuminated at proper intervals tobe visible or not accordingly-asthe light is energized or ole-energized, and according to the position of the stop semaphore.

'Again the invention has for an object the provision of means whereby the time interval between signal light changes may be easily varied or adjusted to suit conditions met with in practice.

' Againit is an object to provide a'signal of the character stated whichmay be suspended over street intersectionsor to be mounted on posts or Other objects will'inpartbe obviousand in part be pointed out hereinafter. V

ends the invention resides in those novel combinations, arrangements and constructions of parts which will be first described, then be spe cifically pointed out in the app nded claims and illustrated'in the accompanying drawings,- in

which: a i v Figure 1 isfa perspective View of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

' Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section, the go signal being in operation. a

' Figure 3 is a similar view the stop semaphores being projected and the stop signal lights lit a to indicate the stop signal. V

Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken in a plane just below'the lower edge of the top of the casing 1.

trical connections. I Figure 6- is a detail vertical section on the line 6-6 of Figure 4.

lating to a single embodiment of the invention, 1 represents a rectangular casing having stop windows 2 in its front and back facesadjacent ends.

To the attainment of the aforesaid objects and, ment.

In the drawings, in which like numerals of. reference indicatexlike parts in all the figures re-.

electric motor 9. I

The motor 9 is controlled by a motor reversing. switch llhereinafter again referred to.

"12 is the fgo light-which is contained within a tubular housing so as to project its rays through the .go'windows 3 only, while 13 ancl 14 desige nate the stop lights carried by the stop semaphores 4-4. g 1 H t "j The gov light housing 15 also serves as a support for a loose ring 16 which has gear teeth l7 to'meshwith an operating rack 18 on one-of V througha suitable gear train 10 from a reversibleparticularly to that branch of 'the art having to do with the directing of traihc' at street or road sition shown in Figures 6, and 19 turns clockwise'it will engage 24 and move it down to the dotted line position out of the path of movement of member 19, member 23 follow-ing after it into the path of movement of'member 19 on reverse movement of member 19, it engages member 23 and moves it out of the path of movementwhile putting member 24 into the path of movement.

The motor reversing switch is provided with.

operating fingf'ers121 to be operated by a finger v 26 on one of the rack bars '5 as the stop signals lreach; the limit of theirin and out move- A top red light 27 may be mounted on the case ing land connected to be illuminated when the stop signal lights are turned on.

Ihthe wiring diagram relatingto the first embodiment of the invention, 25 designates'the main line wires whichsupply current to the mot0r'cir,

cuits in which is contained the motor 9 and the motor'reversing switch 11 and which also supply current to the go and fstop lights l'2-l3' 14 and in'which light circuitsthe control switch 20 is contained; as will be clear by reference to Figure 5.

So far. asdescribed, my invention operates as follows: Assume that the switch 20 is set so as to energize the go signal light 12 and assume V that the stop semaphores l are in the retracted Figure 5 is a circuit wiring diagram of the electhe ring gear 16 tobring its finger into engagement with th'efinger 23 of the light switch '20 it will snapthat switch over or throw it over to the opposite position where it will put the stop lights in circuit'andextinguish the fgo light. The stop lights .then"continue lourn mg until the] semaphores'havemoved outwardly I to their extreme projected'pcisitionat which'ftime a stop finger 26 will engage the motor reversin'g'switch figure lofthe motor reversing switchQlI-and thrOWfit fto the-position indicated in dotted lines in 3,'thus causing the motor to reverse and begin moving the semaphores 4 inwardly. The red signal lights remain burning, however, until the finger 19 on its return movement reverses the position of the switch 20 by engaging the finger 24 to restore the go light and extinguish the stop light. The semaphore continues travelling inwardly until a finger 26 engages the motor reversing switch finger 21 and again'reverses the action of the motor, thus completing the cycle of operations.

It will be observed that in practice the loose ring 16 is of greater diameter and has a greater number of gear-teeth than the rackwhich engages it so that it will not make a complete. revolution to each reciprocation of the" racln Thus, by changing the mesh of the loose ring 16 with therack that engages it the position of the finger 19 maybe changed to advance or retard the time of the operation of the switch 29 'For example, if the finger 19 is set in a certain position the timing is such that the switch 20 will be operated to turn 01? the go and turn on the stop lights as soon'as the semaphore disks begin to intersect the stop'windows and" allow thefstop light to remain on until the semaphores have reached their complete projected position andhave returned to the position where the switch '20 had been operated before the finger 19 will reset the switch 20 to extinguish the stop lights and turn on the go lights position of the ring 16 with respect to its operating i rack the finger 19 may be caused to operate the generally by the'reference character 54, thereby switch 20 when the stop sez'naphore'has reached say the half-way projected, position, thus changing the relative interval between the stop and go periods, or instead of changing the position of the ring 9, rings of difierent diameters may be employed for the purpose of changing the be evident ,to.those skilled in the timing, as will art. i ,7 I While I have disclosed the invention for giving signals both ways along one direction, it is ob-i.

vious that it may be duplicated to give signals both ways. along two directions, as at street crossings but as that will be a mere duplication of parts illustration'thereof is thought to be unnecessary. i

If desired, the box or casing 1 may be, provided with street indicating sig'ns designated assisting in the direction of traffic. I

From the foregoing descriptiomtaken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is S thought that the complete construction, operation and advantages of my invention will bereadily understood by those skilled in the art.

What I claim is: 3 i a 1. In an electrically actuated traific signal, a

casing having afgo signal window anda sepa rate stop signal window, asign'al light mounted within the casing in a position to cast itsrays through the go signal window when the light is energized, a"stop,signal semaphore located respect to the of saidi'rack bar.' 1 r alternately with said stop signal window and means for periodically energizing and extinguishing said stop and go lights alternately ac cordingly as said stop semaphores translucent portion and its light are visible through said stop signal window or not. 1

2. In an-electrical1y actuated trainc signal, a casing having a go signal window and a separatefstop signal window, a signal light mounted within the casing in a position to cast its rays through the go signal window when the light is energized, a stop signal semaphore located within the casing and having a translucent portion and a stop light carried thereby to illumi- ,nate said translucent portion when said stop light is energized, a motor, and power transmitting mechanism between said motor and said semaphore for moving said semaphore to place its translucent portion into and out of register with said stop signal window alternately, means for effectingreversal ofthe motor action at definite time time intervals to bring said semaphore with its translucent portion into and out of register alternately with said stop signal window, means for periodically energizing and extinguishing said stop and go lights alternately accordingly as said stop :semaphores translucent portion and its light are visible through said stop signal window or not, and a translucent globe on top ofsaid casing and a light within the globe, means for energizing and extinguishing said light in accordance with said stop light, p

3. A totally'enclosed traffic signal comprisingacasinghaving a go signalwindow and a sepa rate stop signal window, a reciprocating semaphore enclosed within said casing, means for moving saidsemaphore into juxtaposition with said stop signalwindow so as to be visible there-i through at the latter part of its reciprocating movement and be in register therewith substantially at the end of its movement, a stop light 7 V on the semaphore within the casing to illuminate the semaphore during apart of the time when it is in theaforementioned positions with stop window so that the semaphore will give a signal, a cooperating light within the casingfor the go signalwindow to give the go signal alternately with the stop signal, means within the casing and operated by one complete reciprocation back and forth of the semaphore to accomplishthe alternate display of said lights, the time of one cycle being coincident with one complete reciprocation back and forth of the semaphore. 1

4. In a traffic signal, a casing having a go signal window and a stop signal window, a

motor geared to said rack bar and located within the casing and a motor reversing switch mechanism cooperating with said motor forreciprocating" the rack bar to bring'itslantern alternately into and outof register with said stop signal window, a stop light in said lantern, light circuits for said stop andgo lights and a switch thereior incircuit with said lights for alternately .iornv sHnnDY.

energizing and extinguishing said-lights, and 7 means to'operate said switch by the reciprocation 

